Event Safety Insights Issue Four | Summer 2017 | Page 54

Before I would pay for more security guards to sit out- side a venue, I would spend the time to ensure that the ones already working understand basic crowd manage- ment, know the venue and its exits and shelters, and can convey key messages during an emergency. Ad Index Access Event Solutions 55 Allianz 49 Before pulling the trigger on new wands or walk-through magnetometers, I’d see if your staff is using your current technology to its fullest capacity. Big Hammer 35 I would make sure that production staff know how to do their jobs safely and understand that reporting hazard- ous conditions can help save lives. Event Safety Access Training 2 I would blow the dust off your current emergency plan to see what it says, whether it accurately describes what your staff is able to do or merely establishes a breach of your duty of care because they are unprepared to do what the plan says they must do. Being able to evacuate a crowd, for example, is important whether the reason to move people is a fire, severe weather, a shooter, or a bomb threat. I think a reasonable person applies an all-hazards ap- proach to venue and event security. The goal is to address the white swans consistent with their greater likelihood, and the black swans to the extent it doesn’t unreasonably divert scarce resources from more foreseeable threats. Venues and events with essentially unlimited resources have the luxury of buying new security toys whenever there is another incident. For the rest of you, try to base your choices on reason. eps america 6 HUB International 42 Mountain Productions 24 PRG 18 Take 1 Insurance 15 The Event Safety Shop 9 WDT WeatherOps 41